Uganda bomb blasts kills 64 football fans

12 July 2010

At least 64 football fans were killed whilst watching the World Cup final in Uganda in a series of co-ordinated explosions. The suicide bombers were suspected to be part of the Somalian Islamist group Al-Shabab, which has strong links with Al Qaeda.

The blasts occurred towards the end of the Spain-Holland match as fans gathered in public places in the country’s capital, Kampala.

At least one American died in the attacks, which have been blamed on Somali Islamists. Ethiopian, Indian and Congolese nationals were also among the victims.

The US president, Barack Obama, described the attacks as “deplorable and cowardly”.

The first bomb detonated at 10.25pm (8.25pm GMT) at the Ethiopian Village restaurant, which is popular with foreigners, killing 15 people. About 50 minutes later twin blasts then tore through the Lugogo rugby club, where crowds were watching the match on a large television screen, killing 49 people. At least 67 people were wounded.

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Uganda’s police chief Kale Kaihura said he feared that Somalian Islamist group, Al Shabab, was behind the explosions. Al-Shabab is known to have links with Al Qaeda.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni toured the blast sites on Monday and said that the terrorists behind the bombings should fight soldiers, not “people who are just enjoying themselves.”

“We shall go for them wherever they are coming from,” he said. “We will look for them and get them as we always do.”

US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the US would work with the Ugandan government “to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice”.